The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-03
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Cleaned by Telegraph and Mail
CONGRESS.

| CONGRESS-.
IN the Senate on the oath the bill provid-
ing that post-ofices of the third class shall moi
be changed to the fourth class where the gross
receipts amount to S1,4OO a year passed. The
bill known as the Canadian Retaliation bill
authorizing the President TO defend and
protect American fshermen and vessels, was
| then taken up and after a lengthy de-
bate passed with but one dissenting
vote (Riddleberger). Adjourned In the
House Mr.. Lawler offered a resolution direct
! ing the Committee on Naval Affairs 10 inquire
| into the eXpediency of INN ediately appropri
ating SJ0.00O.OO0 TO be expended in constructing.
arming and equipping the navy. Mr.. Thomas,
of Illinois, introduced a bill to increase the
naval establishment. 1t provides forthe build
| ing and equipment Of several large war vessels.
| The River and Harbor bill was then taken up
but no progress made and the House adjourned.
IL the Senate on the 18th Hon. c. B. Far
well was sworn in as Senator from Illinois. The
| conference report on the Army Appropriation
bill was agreed to- Senator Beck introduced q
bill to amend the Oleomargarine law. The res
OlutiOn providing for 4 constitutional amend
ment permitting woman suffrage was then taken
up and debated at some length. 1t was finally
rejected by vote of 81 TO 16 a number OF
pairs were announced. Several appropriation
bills for public buildings were passed and the
Senate adjourned. In the House the Rhode
Island contested election case of Page against
Pierce was taken up and after debate the seat
was declared vacant Adjourned
Il the Senate on the 18th the Foreign
Affairs Committee reported in favor of the claim
of William Webster against the British Govern
ment for land purchased in New Zealand. The
bill creating the Department OF Agriculture was
favourably reported. The Senate then took up
the resolution directing the Elections Commit
tee to investigate the complaint made by three
voters in Texas that they had been deprived Of
their right of suffrage. and after long discus
sion il was adopted. The bill to establish agri-
cultural stations was then taken up and dis
cussed. but no action reached. After executive
session, the Senate adjourned. -. In the House,
the Senate Canadian Retaliatory bill was re-
ferred TO the Foreign Affairs Committee with
the right to report at any time. This
gives it the right of way over
other business when the committee re-
ports. The conference report on the Army APP
preparation bill was agreed to. The House then,
in Committee Of the Whole, took up the River
and Harbor bill, and Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota
offered substitute for the bill appropriating
s7,5OOOOO in a lump TO be expended by a board
of engineers as deemed proper. The substitute
was adopted and the committee rose and re-
ported il to the House The previous question
was ordered and the House rejected the substi-
tute. The original bill was then ordered to
third reading and the House adjourned.
IN the senate on the ZItn AFTER the DIS
position of other work the House bill for the re-
lief of dependent and honorably discharged sol
ders was taken up and after some debate
passed without amendment. The Senate then
took up the Agricultural Experiment Station
bill, which passed. The bill makes an annual
appropriation of $4,000 to States having agr.i-
cultural colleges for agricultural experiments at
such institutions. Adjourned. ... In the House.
the unfinished business being the River and
Harbor bill, it passed by vote of 154 to 81 The
Judiciary Committee reported adversely the
joint resolution for the election of Senators by
the people. The Washington City Gable Road
bill was then called up and the opponents of the
bill flibustered until a recess was taken.
IN the Senate on the 2Sth Mr. Edmunds |
petition frc,n Vermont business |
men asking for a reduction of internal taxes and
spoke in favor of such measure. The bill pro- |
hibiting members of Congress from acting as at |
torneys or agents of railroads holding charters |
or having received Immigrants from the United |
States then came up as the regular order. |
During the debate Mr.. Frye took the floor and !
read telegram which stated that Canadian |
fishermen had again invaded the waters of |
Maine Pending action on the Railroad At |
torney bill the Senate adjourned. %. The House |
met in continuous session of the previous day |
and finally passed the District Cable Road bill |
The conference report upon the Militia bill was |
agreed to. The Pleuro-P Pneumonia bill was then |
taken mp in Committee of the Whole and de- |
bated until adjournment